The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant is a 30 year old white elephant situated near the infamous Mt. Pinatubo. News of officials move to revive it are gracing the Philippine local newspapers. And as any political movement, we can say that this is clearly not for the betterment of the country but for the fattening of already fat pigs.
Now I don't know what is more baffling: even considering reviving a Nuclear Power Plant near a live and destructive volcano or actually allowing that some monstrosity is built in the first place. There is not even a feasibility study presented on the safety of such a structure. All Cojuanco presented were benefits reaped by Japan and Korea in their own Nuclear Power Plants. That's all very interesting but there is a question being avoided - did they build any of it near a volcano?
The Nuclear Power Plant was a project of [[name here]] a crony of the late Dictator Marcos. The plant never opened for operation, it didn't even finish in construction although much has already been spent on it - and much more has been lost in the tallies.
There is much to learn from the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant History. It was a project not meant to finish - a means to pocket more tax payer's money. And the only thing Cojuanco and Arroyo are reviving is an old scam. If ever they find a means to actually have the project approved (they already have a budget of $1 billion drawn out) then they will put up a front of renovating and upgrading the facilities. But it will, as it did before, close before the first light bulbs on the corridors are turned on. These business men will wait for the inevitable but definitely NOT until all the budget has been spent: the people's cry to close down the highly dangerous infrastructure. They will fight, then they will concede, making it look like they did not have a choice and that all they meant was to provide their beloved country with better energy resources but the people are too hard headed to make room for changes.
A well thought theatrics.
Please join the lively discussion on the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant rehabilitation proposal over at Filipino Voices, where we would love to hear yours!
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